We’re about 2 hours from NYC, Boston, Albany, Long Island and New Jersey. Click here for driving directions. GWT is located on over 100 wooded acres in the beautiful Berkshires of Northwest Connecticut, less than 10 minutes off of CT Route 8.
We are a seven-week camp with two-week and three-week session options. Campers can come for two, three, five or seven weeks. While we would love to share the entire summer with every camper, we understand seven weeks is not the right fit for every family, so we offer the flexibility of shorter sessions. Often campers will come for one session their first year, and then increase to two or three sessions after that.
Campers also have the option of extending for additional sessions once they’re at camp if there’s availability.
Absolutely not! Each session is all-inclusive with a distinct opening and closing to the session and its own special events. Of course, the longer a camper attends the more things they will experience, but each two or three week session is a complete experience.
No way! While each two or three-week session is all-inclusive, we offer different special events and activities each session so campers will experience new things throughout the summer. Variety also comes with our unique major & minor-based program. Campers get to choose most of their schedule each week, and can experience many different things.
Yes. Visiting days are after each of the first two sessions.
Most of the campers come the Northeast (CT, NY, NJ, MA, RI). However, we also have campers from all over the country and around the world. In fact over 35 countries have been represented at camp!
Yes, yes we are. Thanks for asking.
Yes. Greenwood Trails is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), licensed by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health and a member of the Connecticut Camping Association. We voluntarily adhere to over 300 rigorous standards regarding health, safety, staffing and program quality. In addition, Owen serves as a Standards Visitors for the ACA because we strongly believe in the value of camp for every child.
The best! Our counselors are hand-picked after going through an extensive interview process. We make sure that all counselors are warm and friendly with an outgoing personality and a genuine love of working with kids. We also make it a point to have a healthy representation of international staff at camp, which enhances the overall camper experience. A good staff is key to the success of any summer program. The staff at Greenwood Trails is second to none!
The bunks are assigned by age and gender.
Our “camp-like” cabins are all clean and comfortable with electricity, bathrooms, and showers with hot & cold running water.
We pride ourselves on being a small, close-knit camp of no more than 180 campers. Each cabin has between 8-15 campers with 2-4 counselors.
We have an evening activity every night, such as campfires, plays, scavenger hunts, talent shows and wacky special events. Before bedtime, each bunk has a “cabin chat” where they debrief the day, talk about important issues and set their goals for the next day.
Awesome! Click here for a sample menu.
We do not serve any products with peanuts or tree nuts. Our medical staff also screens camper medical forms and informs the kitchen and bunk counselors of information they need to know regarding each camper. In addition, we are happy to accommodate campers with special dietary needs.
Yes. Campers get a snack and drink each afternoon. They can also purchase additional items which are deducted from an account set up before the summer.
Parents are welcome to send their children care packages, however we ask you to follow certain guidelines. If you decide to send a package, please keep it reasonable and please do not send any food. We want to avoid “care package competitions” amongst campers, and because we are a nut-free camp, we do not allow any outside food on the premises for the safety reasons.
Laundry is done once a week by an outside service. The cost is included in the tuition.
You can send letters to camp by snail mail or email via our one way email service, which we will print out and give to campers during mail call. After the first week, campers also are permitted one weekly phone call home which you can set up through our online system.
Our photo hosting website (Bunk 1) is updated frequently with pictures from each day. This is a great way for parents to be able to check up on what’s happening at camp and see the children in action.
We have six daily activity periods and an evening activity after dinner. Click here for the schedule of a typical day at camp
Since we can’t control Mother Nature just yet, we’re always prepared for rain. Depending on the severity and length of the rain, we have a number of indoor activities, both large group and small group, that can be done during rainy periods either in the camper’s bunks, the social hall, or at one of our other indoor facilities. And sometimes we just dance in the rain! 
No, campers do not have to wear a uniform at camp. One rationale behind uniform camps is that it eliminates “clothing competition.” We don’t have that issue at Greenwood Trails, as we are a relaxed camp with down-to-earth campers. Campers should wear comfortable and casual “camp clothes” that they don’t mind getting dirty. We will send a packing list before camp starts with recommended items.
Homesickness is a common occurrence at sleepaway camp (reportedly 95% of campers experience homesickness to some degree). The best cure for homesickness is being active, so we make sure to keep campers busy through the day! And when the “missing home” feelings occur, our caring staff are there to help in an understanding fashion. Getting over homesickness is an important part of the camp experience and helps campers build their self esteem and develop a sense of independence.
Parents are welcome to drop off their children at camp. We also provide coach bus transportation from certain areas for an additional fee. Campers arriving by airplane will have transportation provided from the airport for an additional fee.
Click here for directions to camp.
We have a physician on call and our Health Center is staffed 24/7 by a licensed registered nurse. In the event of a more serious situation, we’re 5 minutes from the Hartford Health Urgent Care and 15 minutes from Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. We contact parents immediately in the event of an accident or injury.
Parents are always called when a child stays overnight in the Health Center, needs to see a specialist or needs to take prescription medication. Our RNs dispense all medications to campers as prescribed by your family doctor.
We will serve a birthday cake and sing the Greenwood Trails Birthday Song in the dining hall. Also, a special birthday party with the camper’s cabin can be arranged for an additional fee by signing up through your MyGWT account. You will of course also receive a Birthday phone call from your camper.
We pride ourselves on being an unplugged camp, which means we do not allow devices with screens. At camp, we want children to be engaged with each other and with the outdoors; we want them to form genuine relationships and have meaningful interactions; we want campers to learn life skills and communication skills. All that doesn’t happen if everyone is lost in their own little screen.
The camp will always get in touch with parents, and parents can always get in touch with their child by calling the camp office. If a parent needs to reach the camp outside of regular office hours, they can call a 24 hour emergency phone number.
No. Greenwood Trails is a non-sectarian camp. We welcome campers from all backgrounds, religions, faiths and perspectives.
If you want your child to have an authentic camp experience, grow as an individual and have tons of fun in a relaxed, yet spirited family atmosphere, then GWT is the right choice for you. We help campers become their best selves.
We’d love to hear from you!
For general contact info, or to schedule a tour, please CLICK HERE and someone will get back to you ASAP!
You can receive more information by calling us at 516-353-6910 in the winter or 860-379-6517 in the summer.
